Warner Bros Discovery exits New Zealand’s free-to-air market
July 22, 2025 13.50 Europe/London By Julian Clover


Sky TV NZ has purchased TV3 from Warner Bros Discovery for just $1 as the international business steps back from the free-to-air market.

The deal includes all the TV3 brands including Three, Bravo, Eden, Rush, HGTV, and the network’s streaming platform, ThreeNow.

Warner Bros Discovery will retain its pay-TV business including HBO Max and is entering into a multi-year content supply deal with WBD for the continued supply of pay-TV content.

“This is an exciting, future-focused step for Sky and a win for our growth and ambition to be Aotearoa New Zealand’s most engaging and essential media company,” said Sophie Moloney, chief executive, Sky TV NZ.

“It positions us to scale faster, puts real momentum into our strategy, and grows and further diversifies our revenue streams, particularly in advertising and digital.”

Sky already has a partnership with WBD making it the exclusive distributor of WBD in New Zealand.

Michael Brooks, Managing Director Australia and New Zealand for WBD, added: “This is a fantastic outcome for both WBD and Sky. The continued challenges faced by the New Zealand media industry are well documented, and over the past 12 months, the Discovery NZ team has worked to deliver a new, more sustainable business model following a significant restructure in 2024.

“While this business is not commercially viable as a standalone asset in the WBD New Zealand portfolio, we see the value Three and ThreeNow can bring to Sky’s existing offering of complementary assets. The transaction includes a significant and ongoing content supply agreement for WBD’s premium content, for the mutual benefit of both parties.

Sky TV NZ is a public quoted company in New Zealand and Australia and not a part of Comcast’s European pay-TV business.